Explosion's Victims Face Long Journey

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Associated Press Writer

They remain sedated to dull the agony. They cannot talk and _ a small blessing _ probably won't remember most of their early stay at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center.

These 10 people _ nine men and a woman _ were the most severely injured survivors of the thunderous explosion Wednesday that destroyed a medical-supply plant in Kinston. All 10 lay in critical condition Thursday.

Three people were killed. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

The 10 burn patients range in age from 29 to 62. They had burns on anywhere from 20 percent to 70 percent of their bodies. All were in intense pain, said Dr. Anthony Meyer, chief of surgery at UNC Hospitals.

All 10 also suffered smoke inhalation. Two had broken arms and others had internal injuries, including a ruptured spleen. One patient could lose an arm, Meyer said.

Burn center staff members were trying to restore the victims' fluids and keep swelling down, Meyer said. They also applied an agent to keep the patients' skin moist and suppress bacteria that could lead to life-threatening infections.

The patients were breathing with the help of a mechanical ventilator and had tubes in their throats, which prevented them from talking, Meyer said. Some could communicate by squeezing hands or other means.

Some were also receiving medication to help keep their hearts beating.

Meyer said several patients will have skin grafted from other parts of their bodies to replace what they lost to fire.

"We really don't know what they're experiencing minute to minute," said Dr. Michael Peck, the director of the burn center. "They won't remember what they're going through right now. I think that's a gift. There's no reason why they should remember."